World Cup: D’Tigress Draw Argentina, Australia

African champions D’Tigress have been drawn alongside Argentina, Turkey and 2006 champions Australia in Group B of the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup scheduled for Tenerife, Spain, from September 22 to 30.

At a ceremony on Tuesday at the Teatro Leal, San Cristobal de la Laguna, Korea, Greece, Canada and France were drawn in Group A while hosts Spain, Japan, Puerto Rico and Belgium occupy Group C.

Africa’s other representatives, Senegal, are in Group D alongside Latvia, USA and China. The group phase would be held at the Tenerife Sports Pavilion Santiago Martin in San Cristóbal de La Laguna and the Palacio Municipal de Deportes in Santa Cruz, while the final phase is scheduled for the Tenerife Sports Pavilion Santiago Martin.

D’Tigress head coach, Sam Vincent, said the draw marks the beginning of his team’s preparations for the World Cup.

“I am excited and confident about our position in the pool. It moves us one step closer to our goal of securing a medal at the 2018 FIBA World Cup,” Vincent stated.

Dallas Wings forward Evelyn Akhator, an influential member of D’Tigress on their way to winning the FIBA Africa title last year, believes they can put up a better performance than in 2006, when they crashed out of the group stage, losing all their games to finish 16th.

“I think it will be a great outing for us being drawn alongside Australia Turkey and Argentina. I have watched the Turkish national team play and I am confident that we will surmount them.”